14
COMMISSIONING AND MAINTENANCE
Maintenance
The collector must be cleaned and all parts (reflector, glass tubes, etc.) inspected every six months.
REPLACING EVACUATED TUBES
The evacuated tubes are fully functional when delivered.
Nevertheless, if problems occur, they can be replaced
quickly and easily.
Defective tubes are easy to recognise because their under-
sides turn white and their surfaces become extremely hot.
Proceed as follows to remove an evacuated tube. Wear
gloves and take all the necessary precautions:
- Smear the top of the tube (1) near the seal ring with
a lubricant paste
- Unscrew and remove the plug (2) from the foot of the
tube
- Pull the tube (3) downwards, twisting it gently to re-
lease it from the top seal
- Remove the tube from the bottom of the collector.
If you do not have sufficient room to remove the tube down-
wards, proceed as follows:
- Remove the tube from the collector foot as instructed
above
- Pull the tube down about 20 cm
- Hold the tube in a glove, lift it gently and swivel it to
the left or right. This bends the copper pipes inside
the glass tube. Take care not to damage them, how-
ever
- Pull the tube out diagonally across the collector to
remove it.
Reverse the above steps to fit the new tube.
b
Remove any pieces of broken glass without damag-
ing the surface of the mirror. Also remove any res-
idues that might have formed around the copper
pipes.
b
Make sure that the silicon seal ring is still correctly
seated.silicone.
1
3
2
A
MAINTENANCE
Commissioning and maintenance
